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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), Berlin held an impressive Chinese New Year reception on February 8 (Berlin time) in Berlin, Germany to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit.
In his welcome speech the Director of HKETO, Berlin, Mr Stephen Wong, noted that the recent global financial crisis has transformed the international economic landscape, shifting the centre of economic gravity from traditional markets in the West towards Asia, and in particular towards China. He said that under the working principle of "One Country, Two Systems", Hong Kong nurtures all the key ingredients to be China's most important centre for global finance. What sets Hong Kong apart in the region is its ability to converge the unique "China advantages" and "global advantages" and generate an ever-changing range of new products and services that benefits not only Hong Kong and the Mainland of China, but also the rest of the world. This reinforces Hong Kong's status as the preferred platform to carry out both China-related activities in the global financial arena, and also global operations in the Greater China market.
"In addition to financial services, we will strive to enhance Hong Kong's status as an international centre for trade, shipping and logistics, and to develop the six industries where Hong Kong enjoys clear advantages. As announced by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in October 2010 in his Policy Address, we are actively helping Hong Kong's service industries, especially the professional services sector, to expand their presence in the Mainland market progressively. We aim to ensure that Hong Kong can better leverage its unique advantages and functions during the National 12th Five-Year Plan period starting from this year," Mr Wong added.
"Politically, 2010 was also an important year for Hong Kong. The Basic Law, the constitutional document of the HKSAR, provides that the ultimate aim of political development in Hong Kong is to elect the Chief Executive and Legislative Council by universal suffrage, in the light of the actual situation of Hong Kong and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The earlier decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of 2007 has made clear the universal suffrage timetable: Hong Kong may implement universal suffrage for the election of the Chief Executive in 2017 and for the Legislative Council in 2020.
"The 2012 constitutional reform package does not only improve Hong Kong's electoral system, it also opens new doors for political participation, enhances the democratic elements of Hong Kong's system, and creates favourable conditions to achieve universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020. Hong Kong is on track and will make further steps for a gradual and orderly progress towards democracy in 2012 and beyond," he said.
The reception in Berlin was privileged to have the presence of Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Max Stadler, as guest of honour.
Dr. Stadler said, "The guest speakers at the Chinese New Year receptions organised by HKETO, Berlin in the past few years have come from the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. This alone shows the breadth and variety of the work of HKETO, Berlin." Dr. Stadler also highlighted the excellent reputation of the Hong Kong judiciary and the rule-of-law principle and said, "Hong Kong's well functioning judicial system creates the foundations for economic success: a solid legal framework, the rule of law and legal certainty."
In addition, the Chinese Ambassador in Germany, Mr Wu Hongbo, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Mary Chow, senior diplomats, officials, business community, academia and the media also attended the reception, which included a cello-piano performance by cellist Mr Trey Lee and pianist Mr Oliver Triendl. More than 260 guests graced the reception.
The cello-piano performance was very well received. Cellist Mr Lee, winner of First Prize at the 2004 International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition, is celebrated across the continents and enthralls audiences with his virtuoso playing that combines intellectual sophistication with emotional depth and sensitivity. Piano soloist Mr Triendl has won numerous prizes at many national and international competitions and enjoyed success at festivals and at many of Europe's major music centres.
In the coming days, similar receptions will be held in three other cities, namely, Frankfurt on February 9, Hamburg on February 10 and Vienna on February 15. Apart from the cello-piano performance, there will also be a Taijiquan and Wushu performance in Vienna.
The four receptions held last week were very well attended, with about 120 guests in Prague, 100 in Munich, 130 in Ljubljana and 120 in Bratislava respectively. The reception in Bratislava, held for the fourth time by HKETO, Berlin, was especially welcomed by the local business community. The guest of honour, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Construction of the Slovak Republic, Mr Martin Chren, mentioned in his speech that the Slovak President had visited Hong Kong last September and he was confident that there was room for deepening economic relations between Hong Kong and the Slovak Republic. Mr Chren said, "We would like to turn the Slovak Republic into the Hong Kong of central Europe."
Ends/Thursday, February 10, 2011
Issued at HKT 01:46
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